Arsenal’s interest in signing Kai Havertz has hit an obstacle as Chelsea has turned down the Gunners’ initial bid, according to sources at talkSPORT. Last week, it was revealed that Arsenal and Real Madrid had the versatile 24-year-old German midfielder on their radar. However, with Real Madrid no longer in the race, Arsenal seemed to have a clear path to pursue the player.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, their first official bid has been rejected by Chelsea. Mikel Arteta’s side has shown no intention of meeting Chelsea’s asking price of £75 million, which ultimately led to Real Madrid ending their interest in Havertz. Despite this setback, Arsenal remains hopeful of reaching an agreement with Chelsea by continuing negotiations and potentially lowering the transfer fee.

One factor that could work in Arsenal’s favor is Havertz’s refusal to extend his stay at Chelsea beyond 2025. The Gunners hope that this situation may influence Chelsea to reconsider their valuation and reduce the transfer fee accordingly. Personal terms are not expected to be a stumbling block, as Havertz is reportedly open to a move to the Emirates Stadium.

The versatility that Havertz brings to the table is particularly appealing to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. The German international can be deployed as a forward, playing behind the striker, or as a roaming box-to-box midfielder. This flexibility aligns with Arteta’s tactical approach and provides him with various options when selecting his starting lineup.

Since joining Chelsea, Havertz has primarily been utilized as an attacking midfielder but has also been tasked with leading the line at Stamford Bridge on several occasions. However, it appears that Havertz is keen to move to a club that will allow him to continue competing at the highest level, particularly in European competitions, an opportunity that Chelsea will not have in the upcoming season.